SmartyPants Exclusive Childcare and Out of School Club is located on the outskirts of Nelson with easy access to Harle Syke, Reedley, Burnley and the M65 motorway. The nursery opened in 1999 and is now registered with OFSTED for a total of 40 children aged from 0-11 years.
The setting operates in a house in a residential area and reflects and meets the needs of the community.
The nursery operates on the ground floor and the first-floor which altogether consists of eight rooms. The baby unit is registered for twelve babies 0-2 years. The babies are cared for with suitable toys and equipment for early development and to suit each baby's individual needs.
A conservatory incorporating a workshop area is available for 2- 5years and includes painting, sand and water play facilities.
We also have a role-play area, dressing-up, mark making area, small world and construction activities. There is a separate library area with an excellent selection of books, puppets, cuddly toys, tapes and cassettes.
The first floor consists of rooms used for 3-5years old children for play and focuses educational learning which incorporate the six areas of learning in the Foundation Stage curriculum. A book corner and mark making area is also available.
Equipment and activities are changed frequently, encouraging children throughout the day to choose and set up their own resources. There is a wide selection to enable children to thrive and to reach their full potential in all of the six areas of development. SmartyPants operates a curriculum that includes Personal, Social and Emotional development, Communication, Language and literacy, Mathematical Development, Knowledge and Understanding of the World, Physical Development and Creative Development.
The playrooms are bright and colourful with friezes featuring children's thoughts, feelings, imaginative and creative ideas. Photos linked to the Early Years Foundation Stage are displayed all around the nursery.
The first floor is available for all school age children (4-11 years) from 7.30am to 8.45am and 3.30pm to 5.45pm.
The children are grouped separately from the nursery children, with qualified nursery nurses planning activities and ensuring their needs are catered for at all times.
There are three rooms situated on the first floor which includes numerous games, puzzles, arts and crafts, computer, television/video, playstation, music, and book and homework area.
In the summer of 2004 SmartyPants invested in an adventure playground, to the rear of the building.
This is a large self-enclosed area with many features for each and every age group. This consists of a multi-gym with ladders, scramble net and swings, a garden area with slide, see-saws and trampolines etc. an Astroturf area for ball games such as football, basketball and rounders. We also have a growing area to encourage Knowledge and Understanding of the World to help children explore, investigate and care by planning appropriate activities and watching things grow.
All the various areas are divided by block paved pathways to enable the children to ride on trikes and scooters, all of which help to encourage Physical Development.
To the front of the building we have an area designed with 'safety flooring' which is suitable for the younger children at nursery to ride on cars, bikes and generally have fun.
